Senate probe is good opportunity for DBM to explain DAP — Drilon

MANILA, July 23 (PNA) — Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday said the Senate inquiry into the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) will be a good opportunity for Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to explain the nature of the program designed to boost economic activities in the country.

”This is an opportunity for them to inform of the nature of this program,” Drilon said in a Senate media interview.

Abad promised Senator Francis Escudero, committee on finance chairman, to show up in the Senate probe on DAP set on Thursday starting at 9:30am

Drilon said he remains uncertain whether to attend the inquiry which was originally scheduled last Monday.

”It’s in my calendar. I will listen if I will attend. If not, I will not attend. I will look at your media and the transcript,” Drilon replied when asked if he will attend the DAP probe.

Drilon recently urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release all documents, including pertinent Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs), pertaining to the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds which were availed of by lawmakers.

He likewise reiterated his earlier call for the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the DAP, and investigate if there were red flags in the implementation.

He said that a COA full-blown audit would find out if DAP funds were misspent. (PNA)